Soccer

‘It is good for us to have a fight’: Despite loss, Republic FC remains optimistic

FILE - Republic FC fans hold up a banner.
FILE - Republic FC fans hold up a banner. The Sacramento Bee

Republic FC held the USL’s top team scoreless in the first half.

Problem is, Sacramento also didn’t find the back of the net – in either half.

Real Monarchs SLC quickly scored twice after the break, netting goals in the 47th and 49th minutes to earn a 2-0 victory Wednesday night at Papa Murphy’s Park.

“We let ourselves down early in the second half,” Republic FC coach Paul Buckle said on the team’s website. “It is going to be a fight to get into the playoffs but it is good for us to have a fight. We did a lot of things right and I am very positive for Saturday.”

The goals by Juan Mare and Chandler Hoffman helped the visitors from Salt Lake City extend their USL-leading point total to 60 (18-5-6).

Republic FC remains seventh in the Western Conference at 12-10-6 (42), two points above OKC Energy FC, who sit in the conference’s final playoff spot.

Sacramento, which has played its last three matches at Papa Murphy’s Park, will kick off its regular-season home finale Saturday against fifth-place Phoenix Rising FC. The game, which can be seen on Ch. 31, starts at 7:30 p.m.

Republic FC has three away games to close the regular season.

This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 10:50 PM with the headline "‘It is good for us to have a fight’: Despite loss, Republic FC remains optimistic."

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